Fish filleting machine



Augx 2, 1955 A, GRADQFF ET AL FISH FILLETING MACHINE Fil'ed June 2, 1952 -m .mm

mmJ QJ Nm c 2 Sheets-Sheet l Ar'romvsy Aug. 2, 1955 A. GRADOFF ET AL FISH FILLETING MACHINE 2 lsheets-sheet 2 Filed June 2. 1952 IN VEN T0R-5` ALEX GRA DOFF KENNETH W- HOWELL /V N VINO/"F BY ATTORNEY United States Patent' C FISH FILL'ETING MACHINE" Alex Gradofl, San` Francisco, Kenneth W. Howell,` San Mateo, and IvanVinol, San Francisco, Calif.

Application .lune 2', 1952; Serial No. 291,202,

Claims;l (Cl. 117-4) This'k invention relates `togarii'slv illeting machine.

At ther present time. the fil-leting Iofrfishis accomplished manually by using; sharpilmives in acorrespondingly slow methodwhich involves wasteoftime, fish meat and labor, and particularly greatdicultiesroccur in case of exceptionally heavy catches.

In general the objectolletingvis to sever'from the bony structure of a=sh; namely fromzthe backbones, the head and the tail, the'two ediblesde" portions known'y asi fillets.`

Previous attemptswith rotary cutters and-vertical blades including saw blades did not accomplish the operation with the perfection andeiciency requiredandxstill involved waste to agreat extentgandfrequently theycut'the. bones into the fillets justfas.inthe'manualoperation The features of' ouri invention are:` the provisionofa pair of: resiliently convergingV blades, superimposed J one; uponl the other, eaclr blade-being generally AV'Shaped"and' so arrangedthatthe pointsuofthe blades arefacing in the direction from whiclrtlie fislris carriedto thel blades; ther provision of conveying 'means which straighten out the fish sothat it is axiallyaligned with the points oftthe blades: and is longitudinal'with respect? to the-.bladesgtheprovision of aligning means which engage the opposite sid'esf'ofl' the fish so as to feed'ftheftongh'tailLporrtionfofthe-fislrbetween the points-ot` the bladesymeans operatedv with. and by the conveyingfmeans'to positively griprandpullthe'fish past the piercing pointsofftlieV blades,- and other positive grabbing means associatedwi'th the conveyor.' means to pull the fish` alongitheblades so :that the'bonystructure-is between the blades-whiletheV fillets are=on:the outside of the respective'blades and are-,positively carried; the provii sion of the cutting edges-onine blades 4diverging=fromsaid piercing points .outwardlyfandf so formed' that Vas .vthe'fish is passed between and over said 1blades,thejdivergingzedges of the blades peeloff'tlie fillet progressively to the dorsal` f finsv of the fish sothat waste is almostVx entirely. obviated; means being providedtosupport the-conveyorr means asl well as the fish pullingfmeans insuch azmanner as.-to `permit the adjustmentl of said-iconveyor and pulling means:

to the cross-sectional shape'or contourof the? isl; the

opposite blades andconveying deviceson-bothzsidesofithe fish areinclosed'in af casing=wltichvis Soarranged t'hatthe top can bev easily swungl'open; suitable-driving mechanism` being provided tov drive the variousconveying and fishz. pulling means in synchronism.

We are aware thatrsome'- changes may be-:niadef inf. the general i arrangements'- and.` combinations :ofrthe several: de.A vices and parts, as wellfas inztheldetailssoftheconstruotion thereof Without departingfzfrom the scopeof thepresent. invention as set forth` in*` thefollowing specification.. and as denedin the following;claims;;hencezwet do liotilirnitfA our invention to thee exact-arrangements andi combina,- tions of thesaid' device andi` partsa asfdescribed: inrthe. said. specification, nor do we confine;ourselvestoftheeexactxde: tails of the construction of the, said? parts as illustratedxint the accompanying drawings;

With the foregoing; and othen objects.` in: View, which:

2,714,221 Patented Aug. 2, 1955 willbefrnade manifest in the following detailed description, reference-is had to theaccompanying drawings forthe illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Fig; l is-a top plan View of the lower part of our iilleting machine.

Fig- 211s a sectional view of oury machine, the section being taken on lines 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the lower part shown in Fig. l" with the long conveyors removed.

Fig. 4is `a cross sectional View of our machine,vthesec tion being taken on lines 4-4 of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale.

Fig. Slis a cross-sectional view of our machine, the section being taken on lines 5-5 of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 6is' a cross-sectional kview of the lower partsoffour machine, the section being taken on lines 6-6 of'Fig. 2' on an enlarged scale.

Fig; 7is aifragmental enlarged view, partly in section, of the-conveyors system and cradle support near the-tips of the blades.

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the middle portion of the lowerconveyor system near the points of the-bladeson an enlarged scale, and

Fig;- 9 isfa fragmental, sectional detail view of the blades showingthe angles of the peeling edges thereof.

In carrying-out our invention we make use of a pair of superimposedA generally V-shaped blades 1 the broader.` endsLZ-'offwhich are secured on the meeting edges 3\ of alower housing section 4. The lower housing section tand` an upper housingvsection 6 are hollow shells and are connected to one'another by a hinge 7` at the discharge endsthereof so that the'upper housing section can bel opened up permitting access to the mechanism within the shells.

Within the lower housina section 4 is arranged longi-` tudinally with respect tothe lower blade 1 a conveyor mechanism 8 which extends from the intake end 9k of the lower housing 4 to a point adjacent a discharge or outlet opening 1'1V of the lower housing.

Along the conveyor mechanism 8 are arranged gripping conveyor devices 12 moving toward the points of the blades 1 so as to -pull the fish past the points of the blades.-

Also longitudinally with respect to the'blades is arrangeda gripping and pullingl device 13 arranged between the di'verging legs of the'lower blade for engaging and positively pulling-theshalong the entire'length of the blades.- The: top or upper housing section 6 is, in the present illustration, shorter than'the lower section so as to leave exposedl a portion of the lower conveyor mechanism 8f thereby tofacilitate the depositing of the 'sh thereon. In

thepoints of the blades within the said conveyor mechanisn1114: A- longer gripping and pullingmechanism 17 is, longitudinally arranged for engaging the upper part ofthe.

fish to p ull it, and it is arranged between the diverging legsv of the upper blade.

A suitable aligning mechanism 18 is providedv on the intake end of theconveyor to align'and keep the fish lon-n gitudinally with respect to the conveyor and with the: respect to said blades.

A. central friction driven narrow belt I9between; the:V

parallel conveyors of the conveyor mechanism 8` terminates: at` about'v the points of the blades 1 to holdthe fishy in such manner that the bone structure is aligned; with: the spacing-v between the points of the blades; A

similar friction. driven guiding belt 2'1 in the middle of? the upper conveyors 141is resiliently guided towardy the lower narrow belt 19 so as to definitely center and locate the fish with respect to the points of the blades 1.

The conveyor mechanisms and gripping mechanisms are rotated in synchronism by a suitable driving mechanism 22 so that the engagement and movement of the fish at the top and bottom is at the same speed.

In detail each blade is made of a pair of converging legs 23. The legs are joined together into a sharp point 24. Each leg is slightly arcuate between the point 24 and an enlarged rear boss 26, which latter is suitably and fixedly mounted upon the edges 3 of the lower housing section so that the blades extend longitudinally of the housing with the points 24 being generally centrally located with respect to the said housing section. The legs 23 of the blades are symmetrical and they flare outwardly to the full width of the housing so that they can cut or peel the fillets through the entire width of the fish. The outer edges 30 of each blade leg and point are tapered transversely to a cutting edge. The side of each cutting edge facing toward the adjacent conveying mechanism, or away from the other blade 1 is longer than the converging side of the cutting edge adjacent to the opposite leg 1. In other words, the inner sides of the cutting edges of the blades which face one another are narrower and somewhat deeper than the outer converging sides of the same cutting edges, so that the inner sides of the cutting edges ride over the dorsal joints without cutting the bones. The blades are made of firm but springy material. The blades 1 are so mounted that they converge or spring toward one another so as to touch at points spaced from the piercing points 23 so as to keep the piercing points 24 spaced for receiving the tail fin of the fish therebetween and as the bony structure of the fish is forced between the points 24 of the blades 1, then the blades are sprung apart sufliciently to allow the bony structure to pass between the blades while the fillets pass over the outsides of the opposite blades.

The lower housing section 4 has a bottom 27 which is inclined both from the front and the outlet end downwardly toward a drain 28. The intake end 9 extends vertically at the front. The outlet end is formed by the upwardly extended portions of the bottom between the drain 28 and the hinge 7, the outlet opening 11 being near the hinge 7. Vertical sides 29 extend from the bottom to inclose the lower housing. The meeting edges 3 through which the blades 1 are secured are the upper edges of the vertical sides 29. The upper housing section 6 has a front shield end 31, a top 32 which downwardly inclines toward a generally horizontal platform 33 near the hinge 7, on which platform 33 is supported the power driving mechanism 22 of the machine. Vertical sides 34 of the upper housing section 6 are in registry with the vertical sides 29 of the lower housing section so as to inclose completely a shell when the top housing section is in closed position. In the upper housing section and near the top thereof is a spray pipe 36 with spray nozzles 37 downwardly directly therefrom for washing the feeding conveyor and the blades.

The conveyor mechanism 8 in the lower housing section 4 includes a sprocket drum 38 on a shaft 39 which latter is suitably journalled in the vertical sides 29 of the lower housing section 4. Another sprocket drum 41 near the outlet opening 11 is similarly held on a shaft 39 journalled in the vertical sides 29 of said lower housing section. Each sprocket drum 38 and 41 has spaced sprocket teeth formed thereon for engagement with equally spaced perforations 43 on belts 44 made of suitable material. There are two such conveyor belts 44 parallel and spaced from one another on the respective drums. In the middle of the sprocket drum 38 is a V-shaped circular groove 46 to accommodate the lower V-belt 19 for frictional drive therein. The perforated belts 44 extend the whole length of the lower housing section 4 from about its intake end 9 to the outlet opening 11. The V-belt 19 extends from the sprocket drum 38 at the intake end 9 to a driven narrow V roller 48 immediately below the point of the lower blade 1 so as to be in engagement with the middle portion of the fish and in alignment with said blade point. The width of the middle roller 48 is less than the space between the belts 44. Spaced between said middle driven roller 48 and the front sprocket drum 38 is another roller 49. Between the driven roller 48 and the other or rear sprocket drum 41 are two more spaced rollers 51 and 52. All four rollers 48, 49, 51 and 52 are mounted on a yieldable or resilient supporting structure 53 to be hereinafter described. On the extreme end rollers 49 and 52 are a pair of gripping conveyors or belts 12. Each gripping conveyor or belt is positioned under the adjacent perforated conveyor belt 44, and has barbs or claws 54 extended therefrom at the same longitudinal spacing as the spacing between the adjacent perforations 43 of the respective perforated belts 44 so that the perforated belts 44 drive the barbed belts 12 and the barbs or claws 54 project to and above the respective perforations 43 to engage the skin and sometimes the flesh of the fish and positively drive the fish against and into the penetrating points 24 of the blades 1. The length of the gripping or barbed conveyors 12 and the location of the distance between the outer rollers 49 and 52 are such that the gripping of the fish begins somewhat in advance of the blade points 24 and the prongs disappear below the conveyor belts 44 before they would contact or touch the diverging legs 23 of the blades.

A central narrow conveyor 13 extends from the intermediate roller S1 to a roller 56 spaced from the rear sprocket drum 41 between the perforated belts 44. This narrow conveyor or belt 13 also has barbs or claws 54 extended therefrom to penetrate into the underside of the fish. This gripping or pulling conveyor 13 pulls the fish along the blades 1. The spacing is such that the roller 51 is substantially below the narrow end of the converging space between the legs so that the barbs or claws 54 of the pulling device or conveyor 13 appear and engage the fish without tangling with the blade points 24.

In the upper housing section 6 there is also a forward sprocket drum 57 and a rearward sprocket drum 58 over which are placed spaced perforated conveyor belts 59 spaced and driven identically to the lower perforated belt 44. There is a V belt 21 arranged similarly to the lower V belt 19 extended from the front sprocket drum 57. An identical arrangement of spaced rollers 48', 49', 51 and 52 are arranged symmetrically with the lower rollers 48, 49, 51 and 52 to carry thereon the barbed conveyors 16 driven through the perforations of the perforated belts in the same manner as described in the lower structure. The narrower barbed or pronged belt 17 extends from a roller 56 spaced from the rear sprocket drum 58 and over the roller 52 between the adjacent blade legs 23 to engage and pull the upper portion of the fish in the manner heretofore described.

The driven roller 48 extends downwardly to act as a guide to the vicinity of the point 24 of the upper blade 1 so as to yieldably guide the tail of the fish in alignment with the center of the space between the blades 1. In other words, the fish is lightly pressed between the lower V belt 19 and upper V belt 21 and is aligned with the respective points 24 of the blades 1, but as the body L of the fish advances, it spreads the V belts apart and exposes the points so as to permit the fillets on both sides to remain outside of the blades 1.

The driving mechanism 22 includes a suitable electric motor 65 which is connected by suitable drive transmission 66 to the shaft of the upper rear sprocket drum 57. Another transmission 67 extends from the first transmission 66 to drive the shaft of the lower rear sprocket drum 41. Still another transmission 60 connects re spectively from the lower rear sprocket drum 41 to the shaft of the roller 56 and from the upper rear sprocket roribarbed belts 13and 17 respectively. IAszheretofore described, .the .perforated belts 4.4 and 59 drive the barbed gripping conveyors 13. and 16 respectively through the perforations and claws.

The resiliently yieldablef support structure S3 for supporting the set of vrollers 48, 49,51.and 52 includes ,a cradle frame 68 in which allfthese middle rollers are suitablyfjournalled. The shaft ofthe Vroller is slidably journalled in verticalslots 65 Aandpressedby coil springs 65toward the blade points. Thevcradle frame 68 in turn -rests upon two pairs of half bow springs 69 the open ends of which rest upon a supporting ledge 71on thebottom of the lowerhousingsection. Themiddleron the top ;of each 2spring has a bearing dent 72 therein. The.endsof the-adjacentshafts of the adjacent rollers nestle in said bearing dents supporting the entire cradle frame and all the rollers thereon resiliently, and normally urging the entiresupport and the ,belt structure toward the adjacent blades 1. Abutment lugs 7 0 o n the n housing sides respectively above the ljournalled roller shafts limit .the upward movement of the cradle frame soas to keep the 4belts in an :initial spacedposition lwith respect to the-blades. The cradle frameand the rollers in the top section are supported identically with `the f are urged downwardly by coil springs v76 each Abearing against the cradle .frame member at one end thereof andfagainst thecollar r77,011 said stem at its other end soas to fhold the outer edge of said belt down, and prevent the cutting of the belt by the blades.

The fish is ,straightenedout on Ytheinta'ke portion of the lower .conveyor mechanism 'by means of two pairs of ,opposed disks 7 8 which extend over the perforated belts.V Stems 79 extend from said disks andare journalled in another cradle structure A81 and are pressed downwardly by coil springs 8 2 in the same manner as Lhereto fore described in connection with `the lprevious aligning stems and disks. This cradle structure 81 is supported on bow springs 83 arranged in the vsame manner as the bowsprings heretofore described. In this manner the Support is resilient yet .the frictional contact vbetween ..3

the disks 178 ,and the perforated conveyors causes the opposite sets of disks to rotate `in opposite directions thereby frictionally aligning and straightening the iish axially over ,the middle of .the conveyor system and opposite the respective ,points .of the blades. All cradle frames are suitably anchored by the bars 84 connected to the respective housing sections to ,prevent their shifting with the conveyors.

In operation vthe tish isplacedon Atheexvposed portion of the lower conveyor mechanism 8 and is straightened by 4the disks 7 8, tail rst toward the blade point 24. As the fish approaches the blade points 4the middle gripping conveyors 12 and 16 engage the fish positively andforce Ait into the piercing points 24 Vand along the conveying portions of the blades 1. 'TheV belts 19 and 21 center the tail of the iish and guide it between the blade points 24 and yield as vthe iieshy portion of the iish is lpassed between them. The Aportion of the sh past the converging points and along the blade legs 23 is Athen grabbed by the barbs of the rear .barbed conveyors 13 and 17 and the fish is thus pulled and carried along the widening portions ofthe blades "1 the outer edges of which Vlatter peel off the fillets from the boue structure outwardly past the dorsal fins, and even `peel olf the skin from the dorsal fins. The piercing blade points pierce the head bones from the rear and shear oif the sides of the head. The .fillets and the b one structure are freed from the rear barbed belt prior to reaching the end of the lower perforated conveyors so thatthe filleted iish is ejected at the rear downward turn of the perforated maaar conveyors and .through ,the .outlet opening .l1 :of 4.the lower housing '4. .1`hev operation fissimple, .fully tautomatic, .flexible to. handle lfish of varying .thickness .and width. The machinedoes net regnire any/.adjustment .and .is -easily inspected and `cleaned by swinging the top housing with the top mechanism in fit.upwardly..about the-housing hinge.

We claim:

1. In a'fish iilleting machine generally .parallelaspaced superimposed conveyors, pair of substantially .iiat .blades between said parallel conveyors, eachbladebeing substantially parallel 4to said conveyorsand ,generally V1- shaped the apex thereof forming `a pointoneachhlade facing inthe direction .from which theshds .carried-.between said conveyors, each of said .bladeshaving cutting edges diverging from said,p ointsto a .width wider than the width of the average lishlpassing through said machine, and means .to support the fwiderllportions `ofesaid blades generally iixedly with respect to ,said .conveying means.

2. In aiish lleting machine generallyrparallel.spaced superimposed. conveyors, ,pair of substantially .flat blades between said Vparallel conveyors, each .blade beingsbstantially parallel to Ysaid A.conveyors .and .generally V-shaped the apex thereofforming a,point.oneach., blade facing in the direction from which-thetishLiscarried between said conveyors, each ofsaidblades 4havingacutting edges diverging -from said points to a .Width -W.ider.than the width of theaverage iish passing through Asaid machine, and means to supportthe wider portionsof said blades generally iixedly with respect .to,.said vconveying means, the said blades beingres'iliently yieldableapart from one another to accommodatethe bony structure of the iish therebetween.

3. In a ish iilleting machine,generally.parallel.spacedV superimposed conveyors, ,pair ,of substantially `fiat blades between said `parallel conveyors, ,each .blade being -substantially parallel to said conveyors and generally VA\/ shaped the apex thereof 'formingapointfon :cach blade facing inthe. direction from which the-iishiscarried Vbef tween said conveyors, eachof said .bladeshavingcutting edges diverging from said pointsto a width widerthanthe width of the average ish passing through said machine, andmeans to support the widerportions of said blades generally xedly with respect to-said conveyingmeans, the said blades being `resilien'tly.yielda'ble apartrffrom one another to accommodate the bony structure of the fish therebetween, and gripping means moving in synchronism with said conveying means 4`and parallel with the :planes of said blades forrpenetratingaud gripping opposite sides of the iish for pulling said ishEpast said pointszand along said blades.

4. In a fish iilleting machine generally parallel -spaced, conveyors including gripping means .and having a feed-V ing and a dischar,ge end, pair of blades betweensaid 4parallel conveyors, each blade being generally V-shaped the apex thereof forming a point on each blade facing .in the direction from which the fish 'is carriedbetween saidconveyors, each of said blades having cutting edges diverging from said tpoints to a width wider than theuwidth of the average fish passing through saidl machine, and means to support -the wider portions of said blades generally xedly withrespect to said conveying means, and a housing surrounding said .conveying means and said blades, said housing vhaving an outlet opening at said discharge end, said housing being made of upper and lower separable sections, one of said conveyor means and gripping means being in the lower section and the other conveyor means and gripping means being in the upper housing section and being separable from the rst mentioned conveyor means and gripping means.

5. In a fish `illeting machine generally parallel spaced conveyors including ,gripping means, pair of blades betweenrsaid parallel conveyors, each blade being generally 'V-shaped the apex thereof forming a point on each blade facing in the direction from which the fish is carried between said conveyors, each of said blades having cutting edges diverging from said points to a width wider than the width of the average fish passing through said machine, and means to support the wider portions of said blades generally fixedly with respect to said conveying means, and a housing surrounding said conveying means and said blades, said housing having an intake end'and an outlet opening at opposite ends of said conveyors, said housing being made of upper and lower separable sections, one of said conveyor means and gripping means being 1n the lower section and the other of said conveyor means and gripping means adjacent thereto being in the upper housing section and being separable from the first mentioned conveyor means and gripping means, the upper housing section being shorter than the lower housing section at the intake end thereof and the conveyor means in the lower housing section being extended into said longer housing section to permit the depositing of the fish upon the lower conveyor.

6. In a fish filleting machine generally parallel spaced superimposed conveyors, pair of substantially fiat blades, and means to support said blades stationarily between said parallel conveyors, each blade being substantially parallel to said conveyors and generally V-shaped with the points on each blade facing in the direction from which the fish is carried between said conveyors, each of saidl blades having cutting edges diverging from said points to a width wider than the width of the averagel fish passing through said machine, the outer cutting edges of each of said blades being inclined at a fiatter angle on the sides theref farthest from the other blade.

-7. In a fish filleting machine, a pair of superimposed blades arranged in generally parallel planes, outer cutting edges of each blade converging to an apex generally in said respective planes, a piercing point formed at each apex, and fish conveyor means moving on a path generally parallel with and spaced from the planes of the respective blades and oppositely to the direction of said points to convey fish against and unto said piercing points and then along said blades, said cutting edges on each of said blades diverging generally in said plane from said respective points to a width wider than the usual width of the fish conveyed thereto so as to peel the fillets from the opposite sides of the bone structure of said fish.

8. In a fish filleting machine, a pair of superimposed blades arranged in generally parallel planes, outer cutting edges of each blade converging to an apex generally in said respective planes, a piercing point formed at each apex, and fish conveyor means moving on a path generally parallel with and spaced from the planes of the respective blades and oppositely to the direction of said points to convey fish against and unto said piercing points and then along said blades, said cutting edges on each of said blades diverging generally in said plane from said respective points to a width wider`than the usual Width of the fish conveyed thereto so as to peel the fillets from the opposite sides of the bone structure of said fish, and means to support the wider end of said blades stationarily with respect to said conveying means, said blades being resiliently yieldable Vto firmly conform the space between the blades to the bone structure of said fish.

9. In a fish filleting machine, a pair of superimposed blades arranged in generally parallel planes, outer cutting edges of each blade converging to an apex generally in said respective planes, a piercing point formed at each apex, and fish conveyor means moving on a path generally parallel with and spaced from the planes of the respective blades and oppositely to the direction of said points to convey fish against and unto said piercing points and then along said blades, said cutting edges on each of said blades diverging generally in said plane from said respective points to a width wider than the usual width of the fish conveyed vthereto so as to peel the fillets from the opposite sides of the bone structure of said fish, each of saidY blades including a pair of elements arranged generally in V-shape in a plane parallel with the path of the fish onr said conveyor means, the apex of said V-shape forming said piercing point and facing in the direction from which the fish approaches said blades.

10. In a fish filleting machine, a pair of superimposed blades arranged in generally parallelplanes, outer cutting edges of each blade converging to an apex generally in said respective planes,a piercing point formed at each apex, and fish conveyor means moving on a path generally parallel with and spaced from the planes of the respective blades and oppositely to the direction of said points to Vconvey fish against and unto said piercing points and then along said blades, said cutting edges on Veach of said blades diverging generally in said plane from said respective points to a Width wider than the usual width of the sh conveyed thereto so as to peel the fillets from the opposite sides of the bone structure of said fish, each of said blades including a pair of elements arranged generally in V- shape in a plane parallel with the path of the fish on said conveyor means, the apex of said V-sliape forming said piercing point and facing in the direction from which the fish approaches said blades, means at the wider ends of said blades to hold said wider ends' fixed relatively to said conveying means, and said blades being resiliently yieldable to firmly' conform the space between the blades to the bony structure of said fish.

ll. In a fish filleting machine, a pair of superimposed blades'arranged in generally parallel planes, outer cutting edges of each blade converging to an apex generally in said respective planes, a piercing point formed at each apex, and fish conveyor means moving on a path generally parallel with and spaced from the planes of the respective blades and oppositely to the direction of said points to convey fish against and unto said piercing points and then along said blades, said cutting edges on each of said blades diverging generally in said plane from said respective points to a width wider than the usual width of the fish conveyed thereto so as to peel the fillets from the opposite sides of the bone structure of said sh, said conveyor means including perforated conveyor elements, and auxiliary conveyor means adjacent the said points of said blades having claw elements f ornied thereon in the same spaced relation as the spacing between the perforations of said perforated element and extending through said perforatioris to penetrate into the said fish.

l2. In a sh filleting machine, a pair of superimposed blades arranged in generally parallel planes, outer cutting edges of each blade converging to an apex generally in said respective planes, a piercing point formed at each apex, and fish conveyortmeans moving on a path generally parallel with and spaced from the planes of the respective blades and oppositely to the direction of said points to convey fish against and unto said piercing points and then along said blades, said cutting edges on each of said blades diverging generally in said plane from said respective points to a width wider than the usual width of the fish conveyed thereto so as to peel the fillets from the opposite sides of the bone structure of said fish, said conveyor means including perforated conveyor elements, and auxiliary conveyor means adjacent the said points of said blades having claw elements formed thereon in the same spaced relation as the spacing between the perforations of said perforated element and extending through said perforations to penetrate into the said fish, and perforated conveyor elements on the opposite side of the pairs of blades,

13. in a fish filleting machine, a pair of superimposed blades arranged in` generally parallel planes, outer cutting edges of each blade converging to an apex generally in said respective planes, a piercing point formed at each apex, and fish conveyor means moving on a path ,generally parallel with and spaced from the planes of the respective blades and oppositely to the direction of said points to convey fish against and unto said piercing points and then along said blades, said cutting edges on each of said blades diverging generally in said plane from said respective points to a width wider than the usual width of the fish conveyed thereto so as to peel the fillets from the opposite sides of the bone structure of said fish, said conveying means adjacent the said points of said blades having claw elements formed thereon to penetrate into the said fish, and opposite guiding elements associated with said conveyor means converging together to the penetrating points of said blades on the opposite sides thereof for guiding the fish aligned with the points of said blades.

14. In a fish filleting machine, a pair of superimposed blades arranged in generally parallel planes, outer cutting edges of each blade converging to an apex generally in said respective planes, a piercing point formed at each apex, and fish conveyor means moving on a path generally parallel with and spaced from the planes of the respective blades and oppositely to the direction of said points to convey fish against and unto said piercing points and then along said blades, said cutting edges on each of said blades diverging generally in said plane from said respective points to a width wider than the usual width of the fish conveyed thereto so as to peel the fillets from the opposite sides of the bone structure of said fish, auxiliary conveyor means adjacent the said points of said blades having claw elements formed thereon to penetrate into the said fish, and other auxiliary conveyor means beyond the points of the blades in the direction of the moving of the fish and on the opposite sides of said blades having penetrating points thereon for gripping said fish on the opposite sides thereof and pulling it along said blades.

15. In a fish lleting machine, a pair of superimposed blades arranged in generally parallel planes, outer cutting edges of each blade converging to an apex generally in said respective planes, a piercing point formed at each apex, and sh conveyor means moving on a path generally parallel with and spaced from the planes of the respective blades and oppositely to the direction of said points to convey fish against and unto said piercing points and then along said blades, said cutting edges on each of said blades diverging generally in said plane from said respective points to a width wider than the usual width of the fish conveyed thereto so as to peel the llets from the opposite sides of the bone structure of said fish, auxiliary conveyor means adjacent the said points of said blades having claw elements formed thereon to penetrate into the said fish, and other auxiliary conveyor' means beyond the points of the blades in the direction of the moving of the fish and on the opposite sides of said blades having penetrating points thereon for gripping said fish on the opposite sides thereof and pulling it along said blades, said last conveyor means being central with respect to said first conveyor means and being generally in registry with the middle portions of said blades.

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